New angiogenesis findings from INSERM described

   "To date, factors and genes involved in the negative regulation of embryonic vasculogenesis remain largely unknown. Angiostatin is a proteolytic fragment of plasminogen that acts as an inhibitor of angiogenesis. In this study, we analyzed the potential role of angiostatin during early stages of embryonic stem (ES) cell endothelial in vitro differentiation, as a model of vasculogenesis. We found an early expression of the known angiostatin binding sites (angiomotin, alpha v integrin and c-met oncogene) during ES cell differentiation. Nevertheless, we did not detect any significant effect of angiostatin on mesoderm induction and on differentiation commitment into cells of the endothelial lineage. In both control and angiostatin-treated conditions, the temporal and extent of formation of the Flk I positive and Flk-I/CD31 (PECAM-1) positive cell populations were not significantly different. Quantitative RT-PCR experiments of endothelial gene expression (Flk-1, PECAM-I and tie-2) confirm a lack of interference with early steps of endothelial differentiation in embryoid bodies. No evidence for an angiostatin effect on endothelial cord-like formation could be detected at later differentiation stages. On the other hand, angiostatin inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor-induced endothelial sprouting from embryoid bodies cultured in three dimensional type I collagen gels," wrote M.H. Prandini and colleagues, INSERM.

   The researchers concluded: "Taken together, these findings support a selective inhibitory effect on the sprouting angiogenesis response for angiostatin during embryonic vascular development."

   Prandini and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Cellular Physiology (No evidence for vasculogenesis regulation by angiostatin during mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation. Journal of Cellular Physiology, 2007;213(1):27-35).

   Additional information can be obtained by contacting D. Vittet, CEA Grenoble, iRTSV, Laboratory APV, INSERM, U878, 17 Rue Martyrs, F-38054 Grenoble 9, France.

   The publisher of the Journal of Cellular Physiology can be contacted at: Wiley-Liss, Division John Wiley & Sons Inc., 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA.

   Keywords: France, Grenoble, Angiogenesis, Angiology, Angiostatin, Cell Differentiation, Cellular Physiology, Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Enzyme Research, Oncology, Plasminogen, Tumor Vascularization, INSERM.

   This article was prepared by Pharma Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Pharma Business Week via NewsRx.com.

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